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IMDbPro

Rhapsody in Blue

  • 19451945
  • PassedPassed
  • 2h 15m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
Robert Alda, Al Jolson, Joan Leslie, Tom Patricola, and Alexis Smith in Rhapsody in Blue (1945)
Watch ’Official Trailer’
Play trailer2:18
1 Video
36 Photos
  • Biography
  • Drama
  • Musical
George Gershwin is a driven composer whose need to succeed destroys his relationship with singer Julie Adams and socialite Christine Gilbert.George Gershwin is a driven composer whose need to succeed destroys his relationship with singer Julie Adams and socialite Christine Gilbert.George Gershwin is a driven composer whose need to succeed destroys his relationship with singer Julie Adams and socialite Christine Gilbert.
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Irving Rapper
  • Writers
    • Sonya Levien(original story)
    • Howard Koch(screenplay)
    • Elliot Paul(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Robert Alda
    • Joan Leslie
    • Alexis Smith
Top credits
  • Director
    • Irving Rapper
  • Writers
    • Sonya Levien(original story)
    • Howard Koch(screenplay)
    • Elliot Paul(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Robert Alda
    • Joan Leslie
    • Alexis Smith
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 49User reviews
    • 14Critic reviews
    • 55Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 3 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:18
    Official Trailer

    Photos36

    Joan Leslie in Rhapsody in Blue (1945)
    Robert Alda and Joan Leslie in Rhapsody in Blue (1945)
    Oscar Levant in Rhapsody in Blue (1945)
    Robert Alda, Ruth Clifford, Dante DiPaolo, Joan Leslie, Bob Mascagno, Milada Mladova, Michael Panaieff, Willard Van Simmons, and George Zoritch in Rhapsody in Blue (1945)
    Joan Leslie and Tom Patricola in Rhapsody in Blue (1945)
    Robert Alda and Joan Leslie in Rhapsody in Blue (1945)
    Ruth Clifford, Dante DiPaolo, Bob Mascagno, Milada Mladova, Michael Panaieff, Willard Van Simmons, and George Zoritch in Rhapsody in Blue (1945)
    Robert Alda in Rhapsody in Blue (1945)
    Anne Brown, Dante DiPaolo, Shep Houghton, Bob Mascagno, Milada Mladova, Michael Panaieff, Willard Van Simmons, and George Zoritch in Rhapsody in Blue (1945)
    Hazel Scott in Rhapsody in Blue (1945)
    Charles Coburn, Robert Alda, Oscar Levant, and Alexis Smith in Rhapsody in Blue (1945)
    Harry Seymour, Ray Turner, Paul Whiteman, Buddy Morrow, and Al Gallodoro in Rhapsody in Blue (1945)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Robert Alda
    Robert Alda
    • George Gershwinas George Gershwin
    Joan Leslie
    Joan Leslie
    • Julie Adamsas Julie Adams
    Alexis Smith
    Alexis Smith
    • Christine Gilbertas Christine Gilbert
    Charles Coburn
    Charles Coburn
    • Max Dreyfusas Max Dreyfus
    Julie Bishop
    Julie Bishop
    • Lee Gershwinas Lee Gershwin
    Albert Bassermann
    Albert Bassermann
    • Prof. Franckas Prof. Franck
    • (as Albert Basserman)
    Morris Carnovsky
    Morris Carnovsky
    • Morris Gershwinas Morris Gershwin
    Rosemary DeCamp
    Rosemary DeCamp
    • Rose Gershwinas Rose Gershwin
    • (as Rosemary De Camp)
    Oscar Levant
    Oscar Levant
    • Oscar Levantas Oscar Levant
    Paul Whiteman
    Paul Whiteman
    • Paul Whitemanas Paul Whiteman
    Al Jolson
    Al Jolson
    • Al Jolsonas Al Jolson
    George White
    George White
    • George Whiteas George White
    Hazel Scott
    Hazel Scott
    • Hazel Scottas Hazel Scott
    Anne Brown
    • Bessas Bess
    Herbert Rudley
    Herbert Rudley
    • Ira Gershwinas Ira Gershwin
    John B. Hughes
    • Hughesas Hughes
    Mickey Roth
    • George Gershwin as a Boyas George Gershwin as a Boy
    Darryl Hickman
    Darryl Hickman
    • Ira Gershwin as a Boyas Ira Gershwin as a Boy
    • Director
      • Irving Rapper
    • Writers
      • Sonya Levien(original story)
      • Howard Koch(screenplay)
      • Elliot Paul(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Oscar Levant had three functions in this film: he provided George Gershwin's piano playing as Robert Alda's double, he portrayed himself on screen and he was heard playing piano on the soundtrack as himself, Oscar Levant, in the commemorative performance of "Rhapsody in Blue" which ends the film.
    • Goofs
      In Max Dreyfus' office, Oscar Levant while looking at Georges' score of "Swanee" hums a perfect forth (D down to A) and says, "A diminished 9th." In the next scene Max Dreyfus also refers to the uniqueness of a diminished 9th. In Swanee there is no diminished 9th. There are enharmonic equivalents ie. a C# melody against a Db bass which sounds like a diminished 9th. It is acually a sharped major 7th. The interval of a diminished 9th ie. (C up to Dbb or C# up to Db)does not happen in Swanee. Both a diminished 9th and an enharmonic equivalent will sound like a perfect octave when played eight notes apart.
    • Quotes

      Oscar Levant: Tell me something, George... if you had it to do all over again, would you still fall in love with yourself?

    • Connections
      Edited into The Story of Will Rogers (1952)
    • Soundtracks
      Embraceable You
      (uncredited)

      Music by George Gershwin

      Lyrics by Ira Gershwin

      Sung by Joan Leslie (dubbed by Sally Sweetland)

    User reviews49

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    An American original
    George Gershwin was perhaps, America's greatest composer. Judging by his output of popular songs, as well as some of the serious music he left behind. George Gershwin was a man that got his inspiration by a lot of the popular and black music he heard when he was growing up and mixed it with some of the classical music that he learned as a young piano student. The result is a body of work that is not easy equaled by any of his contemporaries.

    In "Rhapsody in Blue", his biographical picture, director Irving Rapper has recreated that period in the young composer's life with the help of the screen play writers, Howard Koch, Sonya Levien, and the uncredited Clifford Odets, as he takes us along to witness a account on this original music man.

    We get to see the ambitious George, who could play anything on the piano his parents intended for his brother Ira to study music. It was clear from the start George was a natural who had no problem composing some of the best melodies that became standards during the 20th century and continue to delight us after so many years.

    Along the way there is the story of the man who falls in love with the lovely and sophisticated Christine Gilbert, who he met in France. Julie Adams, the girl who was to become the star in many of his shows, loved George in silence. Of course, these two women are a product of the writers imagination, or a composite for the real women in his life.

    We are also shown the world in which George lived. There is Prof. Frank, who taught the young man the best of the classical piano repertoire. His parents, Morris and Rose, who adored their sons. We also meet some of the men that shaped his life like Max Dreyfus, his manager, Oscar Levant, his friend and best interpreter, along with some real figures like Paul Whiteman, George White, Al Jolson, Hazel Scott, among others.

    Robert Alda resembled the real George Gershwin; his take on the man rings true. Joan Leslie is Julie Adams, and Alexis Smith is Christine Gilbert, the women in George life. Charles Coburn plays Max Dreyfus. Morris Carnovsky and Rosemary DeCamp are seen as the parents.

    The best excuse to watch the film is the glorious music one hears in it. The movie is easy on the eye, and while it might not be accurate, it still makes for a pleasant view of this genius of some of the best American popular music of all times.
    helpful•18
    1
    • jotix100
    • Jan 2, 2006

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 22, 1945 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Rapsodia en azul
    • Filming locations
      • Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 15 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

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    Robert Alda, Al Jolson, Joan Leslie, Tom Patricola, and Alexis Smith in Rhapsody in Blue (1945)
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